Sprocket chain gearing



Oct. 14, 1947. E, T,-NORD l 2,428,940

SPROCKET CHAIN GEARING Original Filed Feb. 2.6. 1945 Sheets-Sheet 1 0..... .nl mm. N N 1.1

l INVENTOR. Erz/c 7.' Nono BY I .ATTO NE'Y Oct. 14', 1947. I E, T, NQRD 2,428,940

SPROCKET CHAIN GEARING- Original Filed Feb. 26. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FG- 4 Ffa. 5'

INVENToR. E12/c 7. /Vo/eo oct. 14, 1947. E f, NORD' 2,428,940

SPROCKET CHAIN GEARING Original Filed Feb. 26,' 1943 4 Sheets-Shea?f 3 v 70v HTH/127 IIHNHX mmh f f v 2 v I 2 z Il* I l f f 51 oo ola l J2 1 2 .ZJ 33 INVENTOR.

,4 Il, 112,112 I 107' 106, i?. B ERIC 7/VORo oct. 14, 1947. y

E. T. NORD 2,428,940

SPROCKET CHAIN GEARING Original Filed Feb. 26. 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 80/ l/ Q W 2// /////////f//Zi 4 HYT/NTOR.

Patented Oct. 14, 1947 SPROCKET CHAIN GEARING Eric T. Nord, Amherst, Ohio, assignor to U. S.

Automatic Corporation, Amherst, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application February 26, 1943, Serial No. 477,241. Divided and this application April 4, 1945, Serial No. 586,591

4 Claims. l The `invention relates to metal-cutting tools and particularly to a machine for performing multiple milling operations upon a succession of r metal pieces or work fed thereto.

The subject matter claimed in kgearing disclosed in a pending application led Y.by me on improvements in Milling machines, lSerial No. 477,241, the instant application being a division of said application Serial No. 477,241,

led February 26, 1943` The purposes of the invention disclosed in said application Serial No. 477,241 are the provision of a machine which will dispense with all but a minimum of manual operation, will rapidly and accurately effect a multiple of milling operations upon a plurality of metal parts successively fed thereto, Which operations differ amongst themselves not only in that they produce different results in the Work, but in that they are effected;l

by diierent'methods of approach of the Work and the milling tools, the illustrative ,machine shown in theaccompanying drawings and described in the following specification performing three milling roperations in two different.

stages, in the first of which stages the work is moved against and into a cutting tool, and in the other of which stages two cutting tools are moved Y simultaneously into opposed parts of the work.

Claims to the improved methods of effecting,V

varied milling operations upon a metal workpiece, just mentioned, are presented in my pending application Serial No. 586,592, led April 4,

vention may be embodied.

,In said annexed drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved milling machine, the near side plate of the machine being partially broken away, the several elements of the machine appearing in the respective positions assumed by them immediately preceding the completion of all of the milling operations effectedrby the machine upon the 'Y work;

Figure vis a front elevation of the improved machine Figure3 is a plan view of the piece or work ,operated upon bythe particular form of improved Vmachine shown inthe Vaccompanying u"drawinga-the viewinFigure 3 being that of athe instant ap plication is the improvement in sprocket chain piece which has been completely milled by the Y improved machine;

Figure 4 is a section, taken in the plane indirated by the une 4 4, Figure 3, particularly showing two milling operations which were effected simultaneously in the second stage of operations upon diametrically opposite sides of the Work; c

Figure 5 is a section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 5 5, Figure 3, particularly illustrating another milling operation which was effected in the first stage of operations on the work;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the left side of the upper portion of the machine shown in Figure l;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section,taken in the planes indicated ,by the line 1 1, Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, taken in the planes indicated by the line Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal longituthe line 9 9, Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a plan section, taken in the planes y indicated -by the line III-I0, Figure 1;

Figure l1 is a fragmentary plan section, taken in the planes indicated by the line II-I I, Figure l; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the lineV I2 I2, Figure 10.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same respective numbers in the several views, the oper- Y ations which the improved milling machine performs upon the work, in the form of invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, are

duringrthe second stage of operations and a milling cut I2 at the same end in another area during the rst stage of operations. The cuts II and I2 may serve various purposes, for instance, the cuts II might accommodate ra spanner for placingv or removing the piece Ill and the cut I2 might serve for the accommodation Yof a locking member.

Y The operations effecting the cuts II and I2 are performed while the piece I Il is positioned in a ,y reciprocable table 5 of the improved machine, the

accommodatior'i of the piece I0 in the table 5 during the actual milling operations being shown in Figures 1, '7, 10, and 12. In fact, the positions of all the elements of the improved machine, as shown in all the Views of the accompanying drawings, are those assumed by the several elements during .the milling operations, the ,actual stage of the milling operations shown being that immediately prior to the completion of the diametrically opposite cuts II, the cut I2 having previously b-een completed, but the milling cutter by which it was effected still being retained in cutting position and running idly through the cut i2 which it has completed.

rThe out I2 is made by a milling cutter 30 rotated by a transverse horizontal shaft |30 extended transversely across and above -a milling area, the work I0 being fed to the cutter 30 to effect the operation, and the diametrically opposed cuts II are made by a pair of `millers 20, end mills in the embodiment disclosed, mounted yin 'transversely opposed vertical spindles |20 which are reciprocable toward and from each other andthe milling area, the cuts I-I being made by feeding the millers 20 into the work I0.

Certain primary iframe elements of the machine consist 'in a -transverse topplate 2,'Figures 1 and 6, disposed intermediate the longitudinal length of the machine and secured to machine ASide plates 21, Figures '1, .6, 8, 9, and 10, and vhaving depending Yfor-ward and rearward vcross Walls intermediate the side plates 21, of which'the forward wall 22, Figures 1, '7, f8, '9, 10, and 11, extends downwardly to the frame base 4, and the rear wall 23, Figure 1, extends downwardlyto aV certain *area containing cams and 'other associated mechanism in the lower rear part of the machine, as hereinafter fully described. AA front supporting frame portion of .the'machine is indicated by 3, and other certain frame parts will be'particularly hereinafter .mentioned in `connection with the particular "mechanisms which they support.

The cycle of operations, broadly stated, is asl follows:

With the reciprocable .table in Va retracted position from the m'iI-lngarea (its extreme righthand position, which .is the lopposite extreme from that shown in 'Figures 1 and I0, for instance), `certain elements accessory to Ithe table 5 are `opened so that .a piece 'I0' may be positioned therein. Then, the accessory elements are closed Ito lockthe piece I0 in Ythe table 5 and the -latter .then vmoved to .the`left,Fi`gures 11` land 10, fto bring the piece I@ into the milling area, by the action .of a cam 85 and connecting mechanism, Figures 1, 10, and .11, and 'the work I0 'fed `thereby into the cutter .'30 toieffect the `cut I2. Then, the ropposed :pair .of spindles F carrying the mille'rs 120 are fed :transversely inwardly ltoward Veach other, by VVa .cam `105 and associated mechanism,

Figures 1, i2, 6, and 9, to cause kthe millers 20 gradually to move into the work ID to effect the .diametrica'lly opposed Vcuts fI I. "During fthe cutting operations effected Aby the opposed `millers .20, the cutter '30 rotates idling through the cut 'I2 lwhich it has .already effected, in the positiontrolling Acam '|05 and cooperating Vroller IIO so rlperinit. As before stated, the positions of the elements `shown in the accompanying drawingsV are those assumed immediately prior to the completion of the cutting operations, so that the cams 85 and I 05 and their associated elements, and

also the controlling springs, are shown in their relative positions at this stage of theoperations. When thel .cuts II are completed, the springs 80 and-i8l are permitted to `expand and the table 5 and the cutters 20 are retracted from the milling area, and a cycle resulting in the complete desired milling of one piece I0 has been completed.

Referring now somewhat in detail to the structure and assembly of the several elements effecting `the aforementioned broadly stated operations, driving power -is furnished by a motor I, Figures 1 and 6, .to whose shaft is secured a pulley 2| over which -runs a belt '22 which also engages a pulley V2,3 secured to a vertical shaft 24. This shaft 24 is a ,primary driving element which extends throughout the height of the machine and is rotatably mounted adjacent the top in the frame member 2, intermediate the top and bottom in a flange on a sub-'frame "I9, and Vat the bottom `in a bearing box 18 mounted-on fthe -ange AI22 secured to the front wall'I2I of the sub-'frame 'E9 in turn mounted on the machine 'base 4. The shaft 24 effects the rotation of the cams 85'and I105, Figures 1, 10, and 11, and also effects the rotation of the cutter 30, Figures land 10, through the several means hereinafter described in detail.

For effecting the driving of the cams land 105, a spiral gear 6I, Figure 11, is secured to and adjacent the bottom of the shaft 24 and engages a gear B2 secured to a cross shaft 63, Figures 10 and 11, adjacent the end of which is 'secured'a gear B4 meshing witha-gear `65 secured to a parallel crossshaft 566, bothrof which shafts 63 and fSi are mounted in the sub-frame'TS, Figures 1, 1f0, and 11, to which shaft'vv' the -cam'sl85 and |05 are secured, Figures 1v and I11. The assembly is such as :to effect lthe drivingof the cams 85 and I05 in the directions indicated -by the arrows in Figures 1 and 11.

The driving vof the milling cutter 30 by the shaft 2'4 is leffected by aspiral gear `42 secured to and intermediate the height of the shaft 24, Figures f1, 7, and 110, and vengaging a gear'43 secured to'a `cross shaft '44, rotatably -mounted `in afbrackett which is, in turn, mountedfon the frame wall I22, to the end of 'which -cross shaft 44 is secured a gear-45 meshing through an idler 46 ywit-ha gear `41 secured to the `end of the cutter spindle I30 also mounted in the'bracketf39. The directions of'rotationV are such las shown bythe arrows in Figure 10. I

ySecured to 4the shaft l2`4 adjacent the pulley 23 is a vsprocket`25, Figures 1 `and-6, which is engaged '.by acha'in "2B which also engages -a pair of :sprockets 27 secured to the -reciprocable miller spindles I 20, thus rotatingthe pairof milling tools 20 respectively depending from the'spindles II2Il. The miller spindles I12f'0vare respectively Ymounted in a pair of slides 560 Lreciprocable toward and from each other in a manner and for a purpose here- -inafterfullydescribedl In `order `to provide for the changing in effec- Ativeflength ofthe chain-2 6, necessitated by the 'approach to land receding from veach otherof the "opposed cutter spindles |20 around which spindles |20 as a unit the chain 26 plays, 4Figilreda 4sprocket '28, Figures 6 and 8, reciprocab`1e`crosswise of the top of the machine, is engagedby the chain 26 between "the sprockets 25 and 21 and 25 and 2l, as'fully shown in Figure 6, the recprocation ofthe sprocketr28 being permitted by securing it to an upright pin 29 whose bottom end is seated in a plate 3| having a pair of spaced elongated slots 33 through'which the plate 3| is slidably secured to the top of the machine by headed pins 32.v The plate 3| is held to effect an engaging position of the sprocket 2-8 and the chain 2'6 by a depending weight y48, Figure 1, attached to one end of a cable 36 which plays over a pulley 38 and thence a second pulley 31, which pulleys are rotatably mounted on the frame member 2, and a frame b1ock'19 mounted on the front face of the vertical frame wall 22, respectively, and thence over a pulley 34 secured by a pin 35 to the plate 3|, and thence is looped by its opposite end over a pin 49 upon which the pulley 31 is rotatably mounted. y

The feeding of the Ytable 5 whereby the work I9 is fed into the cutter 39, is effected through a sub-table member 59 mounted on the front frame supporting member 3 and secured to the table 5, Figures 1, 2, 10, and 12, but adjustable relatively to the latter, for a purpose hereinafter fully de'- scribed, the `table member 59 having a rack portion 98 depending from its bottom face whose teeth 981 engage the teeth 911 of a gear segment 91. This gear segment 91 isvactuated through the cam 85 and roller 99, hereinbefore mentioned, as'follows: Referring to Figures 1, 10, 11, and 12, it will be noted that the roller 99 is rotatably mounted in the bottom ends of a'pair of depending lever arms 9| which, at their upper ends, are made integral with a hub member 92 rotatably mounted upon a cross shaft 89 and having a forwardly and downwardly extending arm 95 formed therewith and mounted at its outer end on a pin |25 in an end clevis portion 931 of a rod 93 which passes through the frame wall 22 and at itsv other end by a clevis '932 is pivotally secured to a lever arm 94 secured to a. cross shaft 9B mountedin the front frame supporting member 3, to which cross shaft 96 a hub member I912 of the gear segment 91 is secured. y

Claims to the improvements in work-table feeds, in part just described, are presented in my pending application Serial No. 586,594, filed April 4, 1945. The actuation of the reciprocable miller spindles |29 by the action of the cam |05 is as follows: Referring to Figures 1, '7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, the cam roller II9 is rotatably mounted upon a pin |23 secured in one end of bifurcated lever arms II51 secured at their other ends to the hub II'52 of a forwardly longitudinally extended leverV I I5, said hub I|52 being rotatably mounted on the shaft 89, the opposite end ofthe arm II5 being pivotally secured by pin |24 to the bottom end clevis portion |961 of a vertical rod |96. The rod '|96 is connected by a turnbuckle II8 to an upper rod portion |992 having an upper end clevis portion |953 by which it is pivotally connected'to one end of a rock arm |911 iixedly mounted intermediate itsends upon a shaft |91 'rearwardly extended from the frame block 19 and having a for- -ward end gear portion |98 meshing with rack vteeth |991 whose body portion |99 is secured by screws |29 to a slide 69 in which one of the miller spindles |29 is mounted. v

The other end of the rock arm |911 is pivotally secured to a clevis III which in turn is secured by a right and left threaded rod I|2 to a clevis III1 pivotally` secured to ay lever II3 iixedly mounted on a second shaft II4 rearwardly extended from the frame block'19 and having an v"end 'gear portionl I9 meshing with'the teeth II11 e .6 of a rack plate |I1 secured to a second slide 69 in which the opposite miller spindle |29 is mounted. The rack plates |99 and II1 are disposed in elongated recesses 14 formed in the front face of the block 19, over which block 19 the supports 69 for the spindle |29 slide. The rack plate |99 is positioned at the bottom of one recess 14 and its rack portion |991 engages the bottom of the gear |99; whereas, the rack plate II1 is positioned at the top of the other recess 14 and its teeth engage the gear IIB at the top, so that downward and upward movements, respectively, of the rod |96, Figure 1, cause the miller spindles |29 to approach each other and recede from each other.

When the cam roller I|9 drops into the 10W portion of the cam and thus terminatesthe downward pull by the forward end of the lever I|5 maintained on the rod |96 when the roller I I9 is riding on the high part of the cam-|95,

the compression spring 88, Figures 1 and 1l,

which surrounds an upright rod 86 and is confined between a spaced abutment 811 secured to said rod 86 and a bushing V81 mounted on the flange |22 of the sub-frame 19, effects the upward movement of the arm II5 since the upper end of the rod 86 is pivotally connected by an upper end clevis portion 861 to a pin 892 mounted in the arm I I5, thus spreading the spindle slides 69. Furthermore, the spreading of the slides 69, Figure 9, is aided by a plurality of compression springs I 99, Figures 1, 6, and 9, abutting at their ends against elongated adjustable bolts |9I passed transversely into the side faces of the respective slides 69. v

The table 5 is so constructed as to permit the clamping of a work-piece I9 therein preliminarily to the movement of the table toward the milling area and to effect such, clamping of the piece I9 the following structure is provided:

The table 5 is formed with a longitudinal recess 51 extending from its front edge to the front edge of a plate 62 at the transverse center line of the milling area which recess 51 accommodates a plate 6, the plates 6 and 62 having longitudinally opposed parts which are so shaped and can be so disposed as to provide an opening through which the shank I3 of the piece I9, Figures 3, 4, and 5, may be passed when the plate parts 6 and 62 are suflciently spaced, as hereinafter fully described. The opposed edges of these plate parts 6 and 62 are of arcuate formation so as to form, when in their closed position, a substantially complete plate circle adapted to engage the annular side recess I4 of the piece I9. The opposed edges of the plate members 6 and 62 forming this circle are underbeveled or of lip construction 61 and 93, Figures 1, 10, and 12, whereby they are readily inserted under the top ange I1 of the piece I9. Inter--V secting the recess 51 of ithe table 5 in which the plate partv is seated is a lower recess 1 through which and the recess 51 passes an upstanding pin 5| rotatably seated in the underlying body portion of the table 5. This pin 5I is formed with an eccentric 49 positioned in and of a depth equal to the combined depth of the recesses 51 and 1 and passes through an elongated opening 8 in the plate member 6 of the same width as the long axis of the eccentric 49 and whose front and rear walls 81 and 82 are engaged, respectively, Iby the eccentric 49 when the latter is turned, to eiect opening movements and closing movements, respectively, -of the plate memberY 6. It'is evident thenthat these opening aliasiege movement-s and. closingmovementsareJV respee tively, forward movements and rearwardr move.- ments of the plate 6,- on-t-he table 5,. The turning movementv of the eccentric Ml` isl afforded by a handle 4|-1- secured to` a block ll-l which, inv turn is adjustably secured by a set screw; 6x9 to the pin 5|- and is mounted on an; underlying bearing-1 block 9i which` is secured toA the table 5; by screws H9- and through which the rotatable pin 5t passes.

The plate 6 at its rear end is retained in the recess 5l by a bar i5" whieh is, secured by screws I 6 a-t its ends tothe side portions ofthe work tablel 5, and the plate member 62' is secured to the corresponding endot theV underlying; portion -of the. work table` 5 at each Sidey by ar pai-rf of screws I 2-8..

From the aforegoing description it is evident that, inv the position of the handle H1 shown in. Figures 1, 10, and l2, the mosti extended portion ofthe eccentric 40 which is; shown1 as being extended towardthe millingarea has forced the plate part 6 into: tig-ht engagement with the work piece le whichin turn has been forced intotight` engagement with the rear Vplate member 62;. rack segment 971 and its associated' element-stile work-piece l has been forcedV by the subsequent working movement ofthe table 5 into the milling cutter 3Q far enough tohave: completed the, milling cut I2-, in the-position; of `the elements.` shown `in the accompanying; Views. VWhen thetable 5 has. been retracted from .the-working area,l thenl a turningI of the handle 41|l` will further retract the plate member 6 through the action of the eccentric 40- so that anopening ils-provided be- .tween the. plate. members 6. and, 62 large enough for the. withdrawal of the. completed piece t0 and fory the insertion of the next; piece I-ll.

To providel meansto aid the` retraction ofV the platemember 6when the handle-M1 isLa-ctuated toinduce suchretraction, a compressionspring 83; Figures l, l0, and 12; is mounted in arecess 8|: formed in the tablef member S-adjacent the milling area, which compression springY 83: abuts against a pin 82 slidable. in the recess Siand dependingfrom the-plate member 6.

A. positive stop. is providedv for the forward movement of.- the table 5- intothe milling; area;

This. stop-operateswhen the: table 5 has carried the work i--suiciently into the-working; area-to have enabled the rotary cutter 36 to complete the fullmillingv operation eiTecting the cut l-2. This stopis a screw El, Figures l; 2, 10, and 12p-:which engagesand. is stopped by the frontwall 3fof the machine frame when-the table 5 has-moved into and through the. milling area sufficiently tocomplete the milling operation effected by the cutter 3.0. The screw 6.7 `is-adjustaloly mounted inthe lower; end of i al bracket 58 whichv is.- secured l at its upper end by screws 59 to the sub-table;member 50.-, During the forward and ret-racting move-g ments of the work table 5- into and out of the workingy area, the sub-tableV member 53 moves -withthe-tableand is an integral part thereof for suchforw-ard yand retrac-tingpurposes.` The rigidconnectionof the table members 5 and- 50 for. work-ing purposes isf-eiectedy byset screws-54, Figures l, 23 and 10,-.which pass into the-table member 59 and'v aga-inst. T-shapedi depending tong-ues 52 of the -ta-ble 5:-seated in andi-longi-tus dinallyadjustable-'of complementary grooves -53 formed in thetable member- 59; When it'is'clesired to adjusty the table` 5 with relation to the sub-table 5),A such adjustment-can be-made, with- In fact, due to the action of theA out disturbing the underlyingarack and gearset,-

ting-g,y by loosening the; screws .54- and sliding the table 5 in thesub-table 5D by meansot the tongues 52 and grooves 53k and then tightening the; screws 5,4 inthe new-adjusted position ofthe table 5. To the extent desired, also, the-'adjustment of the work-ingstroke may be secured by manipulating the stop screw 67" in thej bracket 58, and to that exten-t not ad-just-ingthe table members 5; and 5D. Further;- adjustmentsj in the location ofV the table travel-which may become necessary to ,suit adjust;- ments of' the screw 61.- may be effectedby adjust'.- ing the clevis; 932 uponits ro,d'93;.

yThe sliding of the combinedtable structure 5 5!!` in the machine-frame iseffectedby the followingmeansti The front frame member 3 is formed with an upper-central extension I8-, Figures 1, l2, and l2; in the upper surfaceof; whichY ana undercut dovetail recess 56- is formed which accommodatesa;v complementary doveta-il 5.5.' adapted to slidev longitudinally thereof a-nidydepending'from' the sub-table member 5%.. Dependingy from the. centra-l'- part of theVv bottoml of the dovetailv is the rack body 98 having bottom-teeth 981 engaged by the teeth- 971 ofthe-gearfsegment 91. A gib 8 4, Figure 2, isV provided for insuring a snug sliding engagement4 of the; dovetail 55 and recess 56- and isheld iniposi.- tipnby a seriest of sideg'screws 51 passed through tih'e frame-part |:8;.

Claims to the improved work-holder assembly and the means ioractua'ting the same are pre,- sented in' mypending application Serial No. 586,593, -led April 4f, 1945.

The structure permitting the reciprocation of the spindle; slides 60 to and from each other and providing a positive stop for the,- inward reciprocation thereof is asfollows:

The. slides- 66 are: formed with rearwardly dis,- posed outwardly-extended: side portions 601, Figuresl, '2; 63, 7, and 9, having rear dovet'ailsor tongues 502 withyupper and lower rearwardly and respectively upwardly and downwardly beveled surfaces;r adapted to slide, in complementary grooves'T-lformed; inthe frame member lil. Gibs 't2 are-provided at the upper engaging surfaces of the tongue and groove members.

Secured by screws 63; Figure 1, to the side surfaces; of the block-V10 are a pair of forwardly extending brackets? H52. through theforwardends of; which -freely-passf-elongated;screws, lildFigures 6and 9; secured Yin therespective slide yside portions 601. Exteriorly of the brackets I B2 the screws 104'- are yprovided with nuts |121; whichl engage theg-brackets H12 uponftheinward movements Aofjthe slidesy 6B; thusitjo'form stops limiting such inwardv movements. Adjustment of.l the nutsr |21 will adjust the amount of inwardmovement of the slides 6ta The; spacing between the slides 60 in their closedy innermost, positionsl isV indicated by Figures-2,- 6, .8; and 9.

Surrounding thev spindles #2D and containedin chambersy 68 formed inthe slides--B--are rcompression springs yllt/for holding the end mills -Zllinthe desi-red Alowermost cutting Dosi-tion, the springs-99 bearing; against-upper xect. abutments. 'Il and lower slid-ing abutmentsy 16 whose downward movement is limited by nuts L29-provided upon the-upper lends of the-spindles l2ilf.`

What -I claim isi: Y

1-. Sprocket chainl gearing iny a machine tool comprising aframe, a-moton a pair of spindle headsmoun-ted in the frame and reciprocable toward-v and from eachl other, spindle-s rotatably mounted in therespective-- heads andv means -for driving them from the motor including sprockets secured to the respective spindles and engaged by an endless chain, a plate slidably mounted on the frame, a grooved Wheel rotatably mounted on the plate, a counterweight and a cable secured thereto at one end and passed around the Wheel, a fixed support to which the opposite end of the cable is secured, and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the plate and engaged by the chain to maintain the tautness of the latter. y

2. Sprocket chain gearing in a machine tool comprising a frame, a motor, a pair of spindle heads mounted in the frame and reciprocable toward and from each other, spindles rotatably mounted in the respective heads and means for driving them from the motor including sprockets secured to the respective spindles, a shaft and a third sprocket secured thereto, and an endless chain engaging the sprockets, a plate slidably mounted on the frame intermediate the shaft and the pair of sprockets, a grooved wheel rotatably mounted on the plate, a counterweight and a cable secured thereto at one end and passed around the Wheel, a iixed support to which the opposite end of the cable is secured, and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the plate and engaged by the outside face of one run of the chain.

3. Sprocket chain gearing in a machine tool comprising a frame, a, motor, a pair of spindle Y heads mounted in the frame and reciprocable toward and from each other, spindles rotatably mounted in the respective heads and means for driving them from the motor including sprockets secured to the respective spindles and engaged by an endless chain, a plate slidably mounted on 10 the frame `and formed with elongated slots therethrough, pins mounted in the frame and upstanding through the slots, a grooved Wheel rotatably mounted on the plate, a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the frame, a pin upstanding through one of the pulleys, a counterweight and a cable Ysecured thereto at one end and passed around the pulleys and the grooved wheel and looped at its opposite end over the last-mentioned pin, and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the plate and engaged by the chain to maintain the tautness of the latter.

4. Sprocket chain gearing in a, machine tool comprising a frame, a motor, a. pair of spindles rotatably mounted in the frame and relatively slidable therein, means for driving the spindles from the motor including sprockets secured to the respective spindles and engaged by an endless chain, a support movably mounted on the frame, a sprocket rotatably mounted on the support and engaged by the chain, a counter-Weight and a cable secured thereto at one end, and a 'cable-engaging guide mounted on the support,

the cable being passed around the cable guide and secured at its opposite end to the frame.

ERIC T. NORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 484,524 Swartz Oct. 18, 1892 239,491 Harvey Mar, 29, 1881 

